NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of activists have been filling the streets in Manhattan’s financial district today, in some places, sitting down to protest what they say is the role corporate and financial institutions in blocking global action on climate change.
There have been reports of isolated arrests of protesters who police say did not obtain a permit for the rally.
Demonstrators chanted: “We can’t take this climate heat; we’ve got to shut down Wall Street,” and bounced two large, inflatable balloons meant to represent carbon dioxide bubbles. Police eventually punctured the balloons.
The protest comes a day after 100,000 people marched through Manhattan to warn that climate change is destroying the Earth. But one demonstrator says today’s sit-in is less about building consensus and more about confronting the institutions they feel are responsible for stalled political action to reverse global warming.
More than 120 world leaders will convene in New York tomorrow for the United Nations Climate Summit.
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APPHOTO NYJM107: Demonstrators form a sit-in during a march towards Wall Street from Battery Park to protest for action on climate change and corporate greed, in New York, Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, a day after a huge climate march in the city. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (22 Sep 2014)
< APPHOTO NYJM102: Police destroy demonstrator’s balloon on Broadway during a march protesting for action on climate change and Wall Street greed, Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, a day after a huge climate march in New York City. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (22 Sep 2014) < APPHOTO NYJM112: Demonstrators march towards Wall Street from Battery Park to protest for action on climate change and corporate greed, Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, a day after a huge climate march in New York City. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (22 Sep 2014) < APPHOTO NYJM110: A pedestrian passes a sit-in formed during a protest march towards Wall Street from Battery Park to demand action on climate change and corporate greed, Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, a day after a huge climate march in the city. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (22 Sep 2014) < APPHOTO NYJM106: Demonstrators march towards Wall Street from Battery Park to protest for action on climate change and corporate greed, Monday, Sept. 22, 2014, in New York, a day after a huge climate march in the city. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (22 Sep 2014) < Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.